Combined speed measuring device detector, speed measuring device and printer for verifying vehicle speed

ABSTRACT

The disclosed device enables the user to verify the speed of their vehicle responsive to sensing that a speed measuring device has been used to measure their speed. The device includes a speed measuring device detector designed to sense operation of a speed measuring device. When the detector senses such operation, it activates a speed measuring device mounted on the vehicle which instantaneously measures the vehicle speed and then stores the measured speed for later display and for printing a permanent record, if desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined speed measuring devicedetector, speed measuring device and printer for verifying vehiclespeed. In the prior art, speed measuring device detectors such as radardetectors, LASER beam detectors, etc., and speed measuring devices areknown. However, Applicants are unaware of any single device whichcombines all of the elements of the present invention into a singleworkable design.

The following prior art is known to Applicants:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,885 to Orr

U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,129 to Valentine et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,729 to Decker et al.

Each of these references teaches a radar detecting device. ToApplicants' knowledge, none of these references teaches the combinationof elements described in this patent application.

The present invention was developed, mainly because, often, motoristsreceive speeding tickets which are not deserved. Three main reasons whyspeeding tickets are not deserved include (1) improper calibration ofpolice speed measuring equipment, (2) operation of police speedmeasuring equipment by inexperienced police personnel, and (3) impropertarget identification. In this latter category, it is well known thatthe strength of a signal being employed by police personnel to measurevehicle speed, when that signal is sensed at the police vehicle, isinversely proportional to the fourth power of the distance (D⁴) betweenthe police vehicle and the intended target. This is because the strengthof the signal decreases proportional to D² from the police vehicle tothe target and again proportional to D² from the target back to thevehicle. Furthermore, as is also known, the strength of the reflectedsignal is proportional to the surface area of the target. Thus, forexample, the surface area of the front of the cab of an 18 wheel truckmay be five times as large as the surface area of the front of anordinary car. Thus, if such a car and truck are traveling side-by-side,the reflected signal from the truck will be five times as strong as thatof the car. Thus, it should be understandable that when such a truck isfollowing a car, it is quite possible that a speed measuring device willmeasure the speed of the truck even though the car is closer to thepolice vehicle. Thus, it often occurs that a police speed measuringdevice measures a larger vehicle further away from the police radar thanthe smaller vehicle which is eventually stopped and whose owner issubsequently charged with a speeding offense. It is with these aspectsin mind that the present invention was developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined speed measuring devicedetector, speed measuring device and printer for verifying vehiclespeed. The present invention includes the following interrelatedobjects, aspects and features:

(A) In a first aspect, the present invention includes detector meansdesigned to detect use of a speed measuring device which is beingemployed by law enforcement personnel to measure the speed of the user'svehicle. Customarily, the detector will comprise a radar (microwave)detector. However, of course, since other types of speed measuringdevices are used by law enforcement officials besides microwave-baseddevices, the detector which is incorporated into the teachings of thepresent invention may be of a type which detects microwaves, soundwaves, light or other electromagnetic waves, etc.

(B) When the detector detects that a speed measuring device is beingemployed to measure the speed of the user's vehicle, the detectoractivates alarm means which may include audio and/or visual aspects sothat the user is made aware that a speed measuring device is beingemployed. Simultaneously, the detector sends out a signal whichactivates transmitter means mounted on the user's vehicle, whichtransmitter means transmits a signal which bounces off surroundingstationary surfaces. A beam reflected from the surrounding stationarysurfaces comprising a reflected signal is received by receiver meanswhich transmits signals indicative of the reflected signal to a computerwith memory. The transmitter means may transmit optical, ultrasonic,microwave or other electromagnetic signals and the receiver means isdesigned accordingly.

(C) The computer with memory receives the signals from the receivermeans, calculates the speed of the user's vehicle in a manner well knownto those skilled in the art, and maintains the calculated speed withinan internal memory.

(D) The display means may continuously display the measured speed of theuser's vehicle or may be activated upon request. Additionally, thecomputer with memory is connected to printer means which may beactivated when desired to print a permanent record of the measured speedfor use either in convincing an officer that the user was not speedingor for verification of that fact in Court.

Accordingly, it is a first object of the present invention to provide acombined speed measuring device detector, speed measuring device andprinter for verifying vehicle speed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a devicewherein the detector thereof may comprise a device which senses theexistence of police operated speed measuring devices of various types.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such adevice which may measure the speed of the user's vehicle and provide anevidentiary document which may be used in Court.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such adevice which may include a display for displaying the actual speed ofthe user's vehicle at the time the speed of the user's vehicle was beingmeasured by police personnel.

These and other objects, aspects and features of the present inventionwill be better understood from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the appended drawingfigures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the combination of elementscomprising the present invention with the environment of contemplateduse being shown in phantom.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a detector which is intended to beused in the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of electrical circuitry intendedto be used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a modification of theelectrical circuitry of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a further modification of theelectrical circuitry of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a still further modificationof the electrical circuitry of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a yet further modification ofthe electrical circuitry of FIG. 3.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a vehicle is designated by the referencenumeral 1 and is shown in phantom merely to provide an example of theenvironment of intended use of the present invention. As shown in FIG.1, the inventive device is generally designated by the reference numeral10 and is seen to include a detector 11, a speed measuring devicetransmitter 13, and a speed measuring device receiver 15.Interconnecting bundles of electrical conductors are schematicallyrepresented in FIG. 1 by the reference numerals 17 and 19.

With reference, now, to FIG. 2, the detector 11 is seen to include ahousing 21 having openings 23 which allow sounds from an audible speaker(not shown) to be heard, a slot 25 allowing access to an internalprinter (not shown), a display screen 27 for a purpose to be describedin greater detail hereinafter, a recall button 29 and a re-arm button31.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the detector 11 is in thenature of a radar detector. To date, most speed measuring devicesemployed by police personnel are, in fact, radar-based devices whichrely upon transmission of microwaves and receipt of signals reflectedoff moving vehicles facilitating calculation and display of vehiclespeed. Of course, the detector 11 may also simultaneously oralternatively include means for detecting light waves of differentwavelengths as well as sound waves of different frequencies, as desired.

As should be understood, the printer (not shown) which is containedwithin the housing 21 may consist of a printer having a roll of paperwhich may be advanced in a manner well known to those skilled in the artto facilitate printing and subsequent dispensing of a permanent recordof the speed of the user's vehicle at the instant when the detector 11detects that the vehicle's speed is being measured by police personnel.Alternatively, the housing 21 may not include a roll of paper. Instead,the user could insert a card (not shown) within the slot 25 and underthe print head (not shown) of the internal printer (not shown) of thedevice 11 so that a permanent record may be printed thereon forsubsequent manual removal.

The display screen 27 may be employed, where desired, to display avisual indication of the measured vehicle speed. The display screen 27may also be suitably employed to provide a visual signal indicative ofthe fact that signals from a speed measuring device on a police vehiclehave been detected.

With reference, now, to FIG. 3, a schematic representation of theelectrical circuitry of the present invention will now be described indetail.

With reference to FIG. 3, it is seen that the detector 11 includes anelectrical conductor 35 interconnecting the detector mechanism to theaudio/visual alarm 24, 27. Concurrently, signals are sent via theelectrical conductor 37 to an actuator 39 for the switch mechanism 41which, when closed, activates the transmitter. A power source for thetransmitter is generally designated by the reference numeral 43. Ofcourse, if desired, the transmitter 13 may be powered directly by thevehicle battery.

As also shown in FIG. 3, a timer 45 is interposed in the conductor 37between the detector 11 and the switch actuator 39. The timer isprovided to allow deactivation of the switch actuator 39 after a pre-setperiod of time so that the transmitter 13 is not operating continuously.Thus, for example, the timer 45 may be set at five seconds so that aftersignals have emanated from the detector 11 via the electrical conductor37 to the switch actuator 39 for five seconds, the timer 45 opens theconductor 37 at that location to terminate actuation signals to theactuator 39 thereby causing opening of the switch 41 and termination ofoperation of the transmitter 13. The reset re-arm button 31 may also beemployed to accomplish this same result manually.

The receiver 15 may have a built-in power source or may beinterconnected into the electrical circuitry of the vehicle itself.Signals 47 emanating from the transmitter 13 reflect off of a groundsurface 5 and reflected signals 49 are received by the receiver 15 whichtransmits signals, such as Doppler signals, to the computer with memory51 via the conductor 50.

The computer with memory 51 is preprogrammed to receive signals from thereceiver 15 and to calculate, therefrom, speed data which is stored inthe memory section thereof. The printer 55 is connected to the computerwith memory 51 via the electrical conductor 53. When it is desired tooperate the printer 55, either the on/off button 57 is operated or, asexplained above, a blank card is inserted within the slot 25 in thehousing 21 of the detector 11 and under the print head (not shown) ofthe printer 55 whereupon the print head prints the data indicative ofthe actual speed of the vehicle at the moment when the detector 11detected a police personnel speed measuring device in operation.

Concurrently, data indicative of the user's vehicle speed is transmittedto the display 27 via the electrical conductor 59. The display 27 may,if desired, have its own internal memory allowing display to occur onlyupon activation of the recall button 29. Alternatively, the display 27may have no internal memory and, may continuously display signals sentthereto via the conductor 59 without need for activation of the recallbutton 29. Either alternative is suitable for use in accordance with theteachings of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, thetransmitter 13 is a microwave transmitter and the receiver 15 isdesigned to receive reflected signals 49 caused by operation of thetransmitter 13.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show alternative embodiments to the schematicrepresentation of electrical circuitry depicted in FIG. 3. In each ofthe embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, all ofthe components are identical to those set forth in FIG. 3, except thatthe transmitter 13 and the receiver 15 are replaced with alternativestructures.

In FIGS. 4-7, like elements as compared to FIG. 3 are shown using thesame reference numerals as used in FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the referencenumeral 13' refers to a light transmitter that may transmit a beam oflight such as, for example, a LASER beam 47' that reflects off astationary surface 5' and wherein the reflected beam 49' is supplied tothe light receiver 15' that sends an appropriate signal to the computerwith memory 51 via the conductor 50 so that the speed of the subjectvehicle may be detected and stored.

In FIG. 5, the transmitter 13 of FIG. 3 has been replaced with thetransmitter 13" that comprises a transmitter of light other than LASERlight in a beam 47" that reflects off a stationary surface 5" in areflecting beam 49" that is received by the other light receiver 15"that sends an appropriate signal to the computer with memory 51 via theconductor 50.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the transmitter 13 in FIG. 3 is replacedwith an ultrasound transmitter 13"' that sends a sound wave 47"' thatreflects off the stationary surface 5"' and whereupon a reflected wave49"' is received by the ultrasound receiver 15"' that sends appropriatesignals to the computer with memory 51 via the conductor 50 so that thespeed of the subject vehicle may be measured and stored.

In FIG. 7, the transmitter 13 and receiver 15 of FIG. 3 have beeneliminated. These structures have been replaced with an electronicimpulse converter 61 that receives signals from the drive system of thevehicle via the conductor 63 and supplies appropriate signals to thecomputer with memory 51 via the conductor 50 so that the speed of thesubject vehicle may be determined and stored.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the electronic impulse converter 61 counts,for example, the number of rotations per unit time of a vehicle axle,transmission gear, engine flywheel, vehicle wheel, drive shaft, etc.,and converts rotations per unit time into vehicle speed in the same waythat a calibrated speedometer accurately determines vehicle speed.

Through the use of the present invention, unwarranted speeding ticketsmay be avoided. For example, when the user's vehicle is stopped by anapprehending officer, after showing the officer the driver's license,registration and proof of insurance, the police officer will normallyexplain to the vehicle owner that they were allegedly caught speeding.At this point, the user may activate the display 27 to display theactual measured vehicle speed in miles per hour (mph) as well askilometers per hour (kph), as well as other information including thedate, time of measurement, for example, in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT),vehicle description (make, model, year, color) including VehicleIdentification Number (VIN) and any other pertinent information. Thedate may, if desired, be that of Greenwich at the particular time. Ifthat speed is the same as the speed which was concurrently measured bythe police officer, the speeding ticket is valid and should be paid. Ifthe two computed speeds differ, especially in the user's favor, the usermay provide a printed record including all displayed information eitherby inserting a card within the card slot 25 or by activating the printerusing the on/off button 57 to cause a permanent record to be printed,preferably in duplicate. One copy may be handed to the officer withanother copy retained by the user for use as evidence in Court.

Faced with such evidence, the officer may agree not to issue thecitation. Otherwise, the user may appear in Court and use the permanentrecord as evidence of innocence or, at minimum, of reasonable doubt asto guilt.

As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferredembodiment thereof which fulfills each and every one of the objects ofthe invention as set forth hereinabove and provides a new and usefulcombined speed measuring device detector, speed measuring device andprinter for verifying vehicle speed of great novelty and utility.

Of course, various modifications, alterations and changes in theteachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilledin the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.

As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited bythe terms of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A system mountable in a vehicle for verifying vehiclespeed, comprising:a) detector means for detecting signals indicative ofnearby use of a speed measuring device; b) measuring means for measuringspeed of said vehicle; c) receiver means for receiving further signalsrelated to said speed, said signals being transmitted to a computer withmemory; d) said computer with memory receiving said signals andcalculating and storing vehicle speed.
 2. The system of claim 1, whereinsaid detector means detects microwaves.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein said measuring means comprises transmitter means activatedresponsive to sensing of said signals by said detector means fortransmitting additional signals away from said vehicle toward astationary surface, said further signals comprising said additionalsignals reflected off said stationary surface.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein said stationary surface comprises pavement.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, operated by a battery power source.
 6. The system of claim 1,further including printer means for printing a permanent record of astored vehicle speed including date, time, vehicle identification, ownerand speed.
 7. The system of claim 1, further including display means fordisplaying a measured vehicle speed.
 8. The system of claim 7, whereinsaid display means includes means for providing visual indicationresponsive to sensing of said signals.
 9. The system of claim 3, whereinsaid additional signals comprise microwaves.
 10. The system of claim 3,wherein said additional signals comprise light waves.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein said light waves comprise a LASER beam.
 12. The systemof claim 3, wherein said additional signals comprise sound waves. 13.The system of claim 1, wherein said measuring means comprises means formeasuring rotations per unit time of an element of a vehicle drivetrain.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said element comprises avehicle axle.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein said element comprisesa transmission gear.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein said elementcomprises a vehicle wheel.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein saidelement comprises a drive shaft.